[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n years to come they will say that the Australian suburban house design revolution started on the border between Campbelltown and Camden in June of 2018.
The house behind it all is at 9 Meale Avenue, Gledswood Hills, part of the Mirvac master planned community known as Crest.
Its square lines stand in stark contrast to the traditional designs of the houses either side of it.
But architect Madeleine Blanchfield has created a house that reimagines suburban living simply by accepting that we live in different times and current designs no longer serve our needs.
Families of different shapes and sizes, the technological revolution and climate change are just some of the considerations that Ms Blanchfield took into account in designing the suburban house of the future.
Speaking to the South West Voice in Macarthur last Friday at the first public showing of the house since its completion by the Mirvac team, Ms Blanchfield said she was extremely happy with the result.
Sitting on a stool in the expansive kitchen adjacent to the al fresco dining area – her favourite part of the house – Ms Blanchfield said she wasn’t sure how the public would respond to her design.
“It is different, so we will have to wait and see,’’ she said.
Dubbed My Ideal House, the project was the brainchild of Australian House & Garden, who teamed up with Mirvac two years ago to make it a reality.
Madeleine Blanchfield, who is from Sydney, won the national competition that invited architects, designers and the public to submit plans for a home that recognised the reality of 21st century life – smaller families with two working parents, multi-generational households, technology-led lifestyles and environmental pressure to use land more wisely and build more energy efficient homes.
Ms Blanchfield’s entry charmed the competition judges with its innovative and delightful approach to family life, offering places to retreat and come together along with abundant little details signalling a sense of neighbourliness, an important building block for any strong community.
The rest, as they say, is history.
At Friday’s official first public showing, Lisa Green, editor in chief of Australian House & Garden, said “the home feels larger than it is because of the clever way the rooms have been planned.
“[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]It’s a lovely, liveable home with generous spaces indoors and out and solid eco credentials,’’ Ms Green said.[/social_quote]
“It stands proud among its neighbours, fosters community interaction and pride with its window boxes and herbs in the front yard, and can be adapted to suit future family needs.’’
Diana Sarcasmo, the Mirvac general manager of design, marketing & sales, says design plays a central role in the reimagining of urban life and the wellbeing of the community.
“Through design we have the opportunity to change lives for the better,” Ms Sarcasmo said.
“It’s at the very heart of what we do at Mirvac and the ambitions of My Ideal House aligned with our own beliefs and values.
“It is an intelligent and well considered approach to the site and settles any argument that big is best.’’
The final word goes to the architect:
“This house is designed to maximise connection to the garden and the openness of the living areas,’’ Ms Blanchfield said.
“It feels unconstrained, spacious and light, feelings which should improve the mood and interactions of the people in it.”
My Ideal House is now open for public viewing ahead of its June 30 auction.
Mirvac will make a $50,000 donation from the sale of My Ideal House to the Salvation Army to support its work in assisting the homeless.
